Agricultural implement.



H. H. BOENKER.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED June, 1908.

970,783. Patented Sept. 20, 1910;

5 SHEETS-8111111131.

Snozufcz am in eon:

H. H. BOENKER. AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT. APPLICATION TILED JUNEQ. 1908.

w W m a R m mm QN. RN. W W 0 e I 2 F f h m m w e M S w 0 d fi w H t a H ,P t. W T 7 Y x K m\% 8 O N n 7 0 N, u

H. H. BOENKER.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9 190B. 970,733, Patented Sept 20,1910.

6 SHEETS-BEBE! 3.

I It Queuing}; I 1 H i H. H. BOENKBR. AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION IILBD JURBQ, 1908. 970,783, Patented Sept. 20,1910.

6 BKEBTS-BHBET 6.

aywontoz I'd 7 dzrom s mam: rum me.v mm .vnsmnmu. u. t.

' Witness UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

HENRY H. BOENKER, OF ST. CHARLES, MISSOI IRI.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

Applieation filed June 9, 1908. Serial No. 437,592.

To all whom it may concern;

lie it known that I, I'IENRY H. BOENKER, citizen of the United States, residin at St. Charles, in the county of St. Char es and State of Missouri, have invented certain new.

and useful Improvements in Agricultural Implements, of which the following is a specification.

:gThe present invention appertains to machinery for use in the field for tillin the soil, being designed chiefly to provi e an im )lement adapted to be mechanically prope ed and which may make a short turn and is capable of being driven forward or backward without reversin the en ine, the plow shovels or like device eing adjustable to meetvarying conditions of work and soil.

For a full understandin of the invention and the merits thereof and also toacquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means'gfor effecting the result, reference is to behad to the following description and accompanying drawings.

\Vhile the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which a Figure 1- is a side view of an agridultural implement embodyin the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. ig. 3 is a front view, the parts in the rear of the front axle being omitted and the fifth wheel being in section.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the fifth wheel and steering mechanism. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line w-m of Fig. 2, looking toward the front. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view ofthe several levers for throwing the operating parts into and out of gear. Fig. 7 a transverse section on the line 2 of Fig. 2, looking toward the front, all in advanc'emf the rear axle being omitted. Fig. 8 is a defiiil perspective view of one of the frames provided with a rear ground wheel.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to inthe following descri tion and indicated in all the views of t e drawings by thesame reference characters.

The machine is mounted upon three wheels shown at 1 and 2 and comprises a suitable framework upon which the operating parts are mounted. The framework comprises longitudinal bars 3, transverse connecting bars 4 and intermediate longitudinal bars 5 and other cross bars 6 and 7 conucctmg the longitudinal bars 5. A counter-shaft (3 is mounted in bearings provided in the longitudinal bars 3 and 5 and has sprocket wheels 8 and 9 fast thereto. The rear wheels 2 are mounted in frames 10 which are shown more clearly in Fig. 8. The frames 10 are mounted at their front ends upon the counterported in any suitable manner in the side bars 11 of each frame as by collars shown in Fig. 1 and a ground wheel 2 is fast to each axle, as also a sprocket wheel 18. A sprocket chain 19 connects the sprocket wheel 18 with the sprocket wheel 8 on the same side of the machine. The frames 10 turn upon the countershaft 6, hence the sprocket chains 19 maintain the same tension at all adjusts ments of the frames. The vertical shafts 16,

for adjusting the frames 10, are mounted in bearings provided in cross pieces connecting the lon itudmal bars 3 and. 5. tlhe worm 15 mes ing with the teeth of the bar 14, while serving as adjusting lHQflIlS ifllSQhOldS' the frames in the adjusted positie'p without requiring any other lock means. 1

The front wheel 1 is fast to anjaxle 2O which is mounted in bearings at the" lower ends of hangers 21. Sprocket wheels'j 2 fast to the axle 20 are connected by s :rocket chains 23 to sprocketwheels 2-1 -fa t to a transverse shaft 25, which latter has a bevel gear 26 fast thereto, said bevel gear in turn meshing with a bevel gear 27 fast to a vertical shaft 28. about which the lower member 29 of the fifth wheel turns. The shaft 28 is mounted in bearings in the upper portion of the main frame and is adapted to have motion imparted thereto from an engine mounted u on the frame. ber 29 of t 1e fifth wheel is provided with a curved track 30 with which cooperates a companiontrack 31, the two tracks30 and 31 being of circular formation. -A shaft 32 located in the rear of the shaft con- 11 nected by means of a chain 33 with the movable member 29 of the fifth wh egl, said connected by the The lower memchain 33-havingits end portions reversely on the shaft '37 is connected by sprocket Wonnd'around said shaft 32 so that as one chain 2 with the sprocket wheel 3!). A end unwinds, the other end of the'chain is clutch sleeve (33keyed to the shaft 37 and wound uponthe shaft, with the result that movable thereonfs adapted to make clutched 5 the, fifth wheel and front wheel 1 are turned engagement with either the gear wheel 60 7 1n ,the desired direction. A longitudinal or the sprocket wheel 61, according as the Shaft 34: provided at-its rear end with a hand shaft 57 is to berotated forward or to the wheel, has a worm gealflconne'ction Wit-lithe rear. A lever 64, coiiperates with the clutch .a shaft 32, being provided 'at its front end sleeve (33 to shift the same and is held at an with a worm thread35 which is in me h intermediate point, or. at either extreme vnth a worm h l. 36 f t, t th h ft, 32, movement, by means of a notched bar. 65. The-construction is such thatthe front wheel A p ck Wheel 6 fast'to the shaft 57, is- 1 may be turned at a right angle to the connected by sprocket chain 67 to the length ofthe machineyvhgh th lt that? sprocket wheel 9 on the countershaft .6, Y a square or short turnniay be made in eith t ereby imparting motionthereto. v g Y direction according tdthe direction of move- A frame 63 is Provided, at the real end f mentimparted to the front wheel 1. the main frame and is vertically adjustable -transverse shaft 37 is mount d in b and is provided with the earth treating Q ing's'applid to the longitudinal bars 5 and q v Such F 5 the p Cultivators I leis adapted to be driven froman engine 38 the hkeh Theiframe 68 is e c y i s -mounted upon th fram work. An'enuine able at its front and its rear ends. Guides v haft, 391 provided with a; r k t wh l 69 are provided between the frontends of Y 40 and a, sproekeh chain 41 o ne t th the frame 68 and the longitudinal bars SPT kGt wheel 40 witha sprocket wh l 4-2 The guides 69 may be of any construction. I 4;. I v loose upon an end 1 rtion of th h ft, 37, A lever mounted upon the main "frame a friction clutch 4:3 gging provid dto secure has connection with the front portion of the the sprocket heel '42. to the'ghafl, 37, nd frame 68 and is provided with a. atch to said friction elutehbeing operable by mean coiiperate with a notched .bar 71 to 1 old the Of a lever 44' wl'lioh-is of elbow form and lever 70 and the front end of the fame (38 30 mounted upon the cross bar 7 and provided in the adjusted position. Another lever 72 With a latch bolt to cohperatewith a toothed mounted upon the main frame has connec- Segment -l5 for holdilf the lever in the adtion with the rear portion of the frame 68 dusted position. Upon operating the lever and is provided with" a latch cooperating 44 to throw'the friction clutchout of ear, ith a notched bar 73m ho d id le e 35- the engine may continue in motion wit out and the rear portion of the frame 68 in the imparting movement to the shaft 37 or other es re P s i n parts geared thereto. y Transverse rods orcrank shafts {Tl (and A" v rti al' haft 46 i nt d in be '75 are mounted in bearings of the side bars .if n h 47 d, i id d t its of the frame 68 and have beams 76 mount er 40 low r nd ith a bev l ge r 48, whi h i in thereon in parallel relation, said beams bemesh with bevel pinions s9 and 50 loose on in'g provided ,with plow or cultivator the shaft 37 and provided attheir inner shovels of'any design according to the parends with half-clutches. A' clutch sleeve 51 ticular work. ,A spring 77 is connected to 'is mounted upon'the shaft 37 and is keyed one of the crank shafts-at one, end and has '4 thereto, and is' -provided at its ends with its opposite enl portion connected to the half c lutches to' r'n'esh with the half-clutches frame 68, Said spring serving to assist in at the'inner ends vof the bevel ,pinions 49 and turning the crank shafts when it 18 required l 50. The 'clutch sleeve 51 is adapted to be to lift the plows or cultivator shovels clear. '1 operated by means of a lever 52 which is of the ground'preliininary to turning the l 0 heldin any one of three positions by means machine to recross the field. A lever'78 se- 115. l of a notched bar 53. 'When the clutch sleeve cured to one of the crank shafts, serves as 51 is in an intermediate position no movemeans for operating the crank shafts to ment. is imparted to the shaft 46, but when raise or lower the plow or cultivator shovels.

in either extreme position, the shaft 46 has The pitch and depth of the plow or culti- 55 motion imparted thereto according to which vator shovels may be'regulatedv by proper one ofthe pinions l9 or is clutched to the adjustment of the levers T0 and '72, which i shaft 37, A sprocket wheel 54 fast to the enable the frame, 68 to be raised or lowered, shaft 46 is connected by sprocket chain 55 or to be inclinedfto the horizontal, as may be to a. sprocket wheel 56 fast to the upper end required. 3 60 of shaft 28. From the foregoing, it will be understood 1 5 A'shaft 57-is arranged parallel with the that the implement is propelled mechan shaft 37 and is provided with'a gear wheel ically and that the driving power maybe 58 and a sprocket wheel. 59. A. gear wheel applied to the ,ihreewheels, orto the front 60'loose upon the shaft 37, meshes with the wheel, or to the rear wheels. When the 5'5 gear wheel 58. A sprocket wheel 61 loose l lever 52 is thrQwn to an intermediate'posi- 1'39 tion, the frontwheel is thrown outof gear and the machine may be propelled by ower applied solely to the rear w eels. I it be required 'to make a short turn, the rear wheels are thrown out of ear by operating the lever 64 and the shaft 34 is turned to bring the front wheel 1 about at a ri ht angle to the length of the machine, af ter whlchthe lever 52 is operated to clutch one or. the other of the bevel pinions 49 or 50 to the shaft 37, thereby imparting rotary movement to the axle 20'and front wheel 1 'throu h the intermediate connections herein descri ed, thereby pulling the front portion of the machine square around and enabling themachine to be turned in its own length. The rear ground wheel 2 may be adjusted independently to adapt the machine to the surface of the ground upon which it may be operated. It 15 to'be understood that the sprocket chain 67 is connected with the countershaft 6 by means of compensating gearing of the well known type in order to admit of the ground wheels 2 moving at unequal speeds, as when makin a curve or turningto recross the field. t is also notedthat the frame 68 may be rovided with any number of plows or en tivators according to the size of the machine and the particular work in hand.

Having thus described the inventiomwhat is claimed as new is:

1. In an implement of the character described, the combination of a main frame, auxiliary frames pivotally mounted on the main frame, a front wheel pivotally mounted on the mainframe to turn about a vertical axis, rear wheels Journaled on said auxiliary frames, means foiiv turning the front wheel tosteer the machjine, an engine mounted upon the main frame, connecting means between said engine fllandthe rear wheels including a reversing clutch mechanism for. throwing said rear wheels into or out of gear, or reversing their movement,

other connecting means hetween the front wheel and the engine including a reversing clutch mechanism for throwing said front wheel into or out of gear, or reversing the same, and means for ad ust1ng the auxiliary frames vertically of the main frame.

2. In a machine of the character descr1bed,,the combination of a main frame,

- auxiliary frames pivotally monntedon the main frame and provided with toothed portions, at front Wheelpivotally mounted on the main ,fraine to turn about a vertical axis. rear wheels journaled on the auxiliary frames, mountings for the-front wheel includin hangers, a horizontal, shaft mounted in sai hangers, connecting ineans between said shaft and'the front. wheel for transmitting motion thereto, a; vertical shaft geared to said horizontal shaft, an engine mounted upon the main frame, a worm v i L,-

meshing with the teeth on each auxiliary frame or adjusting the latter vertically of the main frame, and connectin means for transmittin motion from suit engine to said vertica shaft, said means including a reversing clutch mechanism, whereby the front wheel may be reversed or thrown into or out of gear.

3. In an implement of the character described, the combination of a main frame, auxiliary frames pivotally mounted on the main frame and provided with transverse slots, stub axles journaled in said slots and having rear wheels secured thereto, a front wheel pivotallymounted on the main frame and arranged to turn about a vertical axis, a fifth wheel connection between the front wheel and the framework, a vertical shaft (o-incident with the axis of said fifth wheel,

a second shaft geared to said vertical shaft, :1. c'ountershaft, an engine mounted upon the main frame and connected with said countershaft, means for transmitting motion from the engine to the stub axles, means for raising and lowering the auxiliary frames, and gearing between said countershaft and the aforesaid second shaft, said gearing comprising a clutch mechanism for throwing the front wheelinto or out of gear or- "on the main frame to turn about a vertical axis, a countershaft, power translating means between said countershaft and the front- "wheel including a shaft, a gear wheel fast to said shaft, other gear wheels loose upon the countersha'fti and in. mesh with opposite portions of said gear wheel, a clutch sleeve keyed to the countershaft and adapted to operate between i-the gear wheels loosely mounted thereon and to clutch either one to the shaft, an engine mounted upon the main frame, and connecting means between said engine and countershaft, a connection between the engine and transverse shaft. means for transmlttlng motion from the transverse shaft to the rear wheels, and' means for raising and lowering the auxiliary frames.

, 5. Man lmplement of the character described, the combination with a main frame,

a transverse shaft journaled on the main frame, auxiliary frames pivotally mountedon the transverse shaft at opposite sides of the main frame and disposed within the lines of the latter, stub axles ournaled 1n the auxiliary frames and provided with rear supporting wheels, a front wheel pivotally mounted on the main frame and arranged to turn about a vertical axis, an

engine supported on the main frame, means 'for transmitting -motion from the engine to the front wheel ,to rotate the latter, manually operated means operatively connected with the front wheel for guiding said front 5 ,wheel, means for transmitt'rngmotionfrom.

[the engine to the transverse shaft" and a connection between the transverse shaft and the stub axles for rotating the rear wheels .of said main frame.

6. In an implement of the character described, the combination witha main frame, a transverse shaft journaled on the main frame, auxiliary frames pivotally mounted on the; transverse shz'i f't and dis oosed entirely within thelines of the main frame, said auxiliary frames being providediwith transversely alined slots, and having their free endsprovided with teeth, stub axles journal-led m: the slots of the auxiliary frames and carryingrear supporting wheels,

a front supporting wheel pivoted on the 'main frame and arranged to turn about a vertical axis, an engine supported on said main frame, means for transmitting motion from the engine to the front wheel to drive thev latter sprocket chain's" connecting the transverse shaft and stub axles respectively, means for transmitting motion from the engine to the transverse shaft, and a vertically "disposed shaft having a worm gear adapted [to-engage the teeth on the auxiliary frames for raising and lowering-the latter. {17. In an implement of the character de- TStfiflfifihthti combination with a main frame,

:iaLtPQnsVerSe shaft journaled on the; "main uxiliary-f'frames pivotally mpunted on'sa1d shaft-and disposed entirely within 'e lines of the main frame, stub axles ca'rried by the auxiliary frames, wheels secured to. the stub'axles and supporting the rear 2 "p0 tion of the main frame, a forward wheel pivotally' mounted on the main frame and arrangedto turn about a vertical ax1's,.a

the front wheel for rotating the same, means for transmitting motion from the motor to the transverse shaft, a connection between the transverse shaft and the stub axles for 50' rotating the rear wheels of the main frame a stub. shaft journaled on the main frame and provided with a pinion, a cable having its intermediate portion operatively connected with -the forward wheel of the main frame and its opposite ends Wound around the stub shaft, a hand-operated shaft having .a worm engaging the pinion on the stub shaft for rotating the latter to turn the forward wheel when guiding the engineand -8. In an implement of the character described, the combination with a main frame, a, transverse shaft" ournaled on the mam =i'notor'supported by the main frame, means meansvoperatively connected with the free ing provided with transversely alined longitudinal slots and'terminal arcuateg racks,

stub axlesjournaled in the slots of the aux i-liary frames, ground wheels-secured tothe stub axles for supporting the rear/ end of the main frame, a fifth wheel mounted for rotation at the' front of the main frame. '1 hangers depending from the fifth wheel and connected by a transverse shaft, a forward wheel mounted for rotation on the transverse shaft connecting the hangers, a motor carried by the main frame, means for transfor transmitting motion from .the engine to the transverse shaft on the main supporting frame, a' connection between the last mentioned transverse shaft and the stub axles, a stub shaft having a pinion secured thereto, a chain having its intermediate portion connecting with the fifth wheel and its op- 'posite ends wound around the stub. shaft and rod having a worm secured thereto and meshing with the teeth on the pinion for rotating the latter to operate the fifth wheel. v. v g H x v9. In an. implement of the character de-' scribed, the combination with a main frame,

including spaced longitudinally disposed bars,a' transverse shaftjournaled on sa d bars, auxiliaryframes pivotally mounted on thetransverse shaft and disposed between the longitudinal. bars and adjacent sides of the main frame, said' auxiliary frames being provided with transversely alined longitudinal slots and having arcuate racks securedto the free ends'thereof,

stub axles journaled in said slots and providcdwith. sprocket wheels, ground wheels mounted for rotation with the stub axles and serving .to support the-rear end of the main frame, sprocket wheels secured to the transverse shaft and operatively connected 'with the sprocket wheels on the stub axles,

a front wheel pivotally mounted on the main frame and arranged to turn arounda vertical axis, a motor carried by the main frame, means for transmitting motion from themotor to the front wheel, means for transn'iitting motion from-the motor to the transverse shaft, and vertically disposed signature 

